A source in Memphis told Stlsportspage.com Friday night that Taveras, the Cardinals’ prize prospect, packed his bags and left the Memphis clubhouse during a rain delay before the Redbirds’ game began.

Tavaras was in the origiinal starting lineup for the Redbirds but was scratched during the rain delay.

After the Cardinals' 9-4 loss to the Giants at Busch Stadium, the team confirmed Taveras' promotion and said Matt Adams, who injured his calf earlier this week, will be placed on the disabled list. Adams was examined by doctors during Friday night's game and the Cardinals did not believe he would be ready to play for several days, prompting the move.

"I just felt like we can’t play this weekend short,” said general manager John Mozeliak. “More importantly when you start looking at sort of what having that AL opportunity can do for us, it just made sense two ways. One, let Matt Adams heal and now this is an opportunity to give Oscar some playing time and not have to worry about sort of the balance of power or try to figure out who’s playing and who’s not.”

Taveras will be on the roster for Saturday's game against the Giants and likely will be in the starting lineup, playing right field. The team said he will wear uniform number 18.

“Oscar’s gonna get an opportunity–we’re gonna see what he can do,” said manager Mike Matheny. "I think everybody should be excited; I know he is. He’s been waiting for this for awhile. There’s been a lot of people anticipating him getting here. Hopefully, we can limit the distractions for him to where he just goes and plays the game, that’s always a challenge for us.

"He’s done a lot of things right for a lot of years to get the excitement level to where it is. We know our fans have been waiting for this to happen so we’ll get a chance to see him. See how he mixes in and hopefully, he jumps on board with what we’re trying to do as a club and realizes all he needs to do is just his part.”

Taveras, who is three weeks shy of his 22nd birthday, hit .325 with seven home runs and 40 RBIs in 49 games with Memphis. He has been considered the organization's top prospect almost from the day he signed as an international free agent in 2009. He likely would have made his major-league debut last year except for a severe ankle injury, which eventually required surgery and limited him to just 46 games at Memphis.

It had been widely expected that Taveras would join the Cardinals next week, when they begin inter-league play in Kansas City and play seven consecutive games in American League parks, where they can employ a designated hitter.

The move was expedited because of Adams’ injury, which opens a spot in the outfield as Allen Craig will play regularly at first base.

Earlier on Friday, the Cardinals promoted another one of their outfield prospects, Randal Grichuk, for the second time this season and optioned Shane Robinson to Memphis.

It was on May 30 last year that the Cardinals promoted pitcher Michael Wacha from Memphis to St. Louis.

There had been some suggestions that the Cardinals would not promote Taveras before enough time had passed this season so he would not qualify for “super two” arbitration status, which would allow him to become eligible for arbitration after two years in the majors instead of the normal three.

The cutoff date, which is different every year, for that status is usually sometime in early June.